NAPOLEON — Phillip C. Mires, a World War II veteran who painted signs in Napoleon and taught art at Holgate High School for the better part of three decades, died Monday from complications of a fractured hip and a stroke, family members said. He was 87.

Art and design came naturally for Mr. Mires, family members said.

With paint and an assortment of brushes, they said Mr. Mires could bring just about any background to life, which he did all over Napoleon as the owner of Mires Sign for over 50 years.

"For a long time, he was about the only sign painter in town,” said Marc Mires, one of his sons. “He would do his painting freestyle with brushes and it was absolutely amazing. He would paint letters on a motorcycle helmet in a matter of minutes. I could sit there and watch him all day.”

Marc Mires said many of his father’s signs are still up around Napoleon.

“Anyone over 50 here would still remember my dad as the Napoleon sign man,” Marc Mires said. "He knew everyone, and he enjoyed being around people.”

Mr. Mires also enjoyed sharing his love of art with young people, teaching industrial art and art at Holgate High School, just south of Napoleon, for more than 30 years before retiring in 1977.

“He had these video tapes of school activities and games,” said Jeff Mires, another one of Mr. Mires’ sons. “His students would come back and talk about how he was such an influence in their lives and what a great teacher he was. It really made you feel good that he touched so many people.”

Mr. Mires was born in Liberty Center, near Napoleon and attended Liberty Center High School. He served in the U.S. Navy in World War II on a tanker ship from February, 1943, to December, 1945.

"His art even came out there,” said Joel, another son. "He used to talk about how he’d sit on the outside of these oil tankers painting big numbers on them. We have pictures of him in the paint shop painting letters on the equipment.

"He never really talked about the war because a lot of the people he served with never made it back. There were people he grew up with in Liberty Center who didn’t get a chance to return.”

Mr. Mires earned a bachelor’s degree to teach from Bowling Green State University and received his first painting jobs in Bowling Green. He was a big fan of the university’s football team, taking his children to see them play.

“I remember he was always there for us. One of my proudest moments was introducing him during Dad’s Day when I played at Napoleon," Marc Mires said. “I don’t know whose chest of sticking out farther, mine or his."

Mr. Mires is survived by his wife, Shirlee; sons, Brent Lieter, Marc, Jeff, and Joel Mires; sister, Gertrude Overmeier, and 13 grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. today at Walker Funeral Home in Napoleon. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. tomorrow at Emanual Lutheran Church in Napoleon.

The family suggests tributes to the Liberty Center Library, the Emanual Lutheran Church building fund or a charity of the donor’s choice.